The Doxology of Romans 11:33–36

A doxology is, literally, a glory-word, a word or saying attributing glory to someone or something. While there’s nothing wrong with planning and preparing for a doxology, they are usually spontaneous and impulsive. Thus, a doxology is a spontaneous attributing of glory to God for something glorious He’s done. Take, for instance, Paul’s doxology at the end of Romans 11. In conclusion to what he’s just revealed in 9–11 (and 1–8!), Paul pauses and erupts in praise to God for the “unsearchable” and “unfathomable” ways He is working out His salvific purposes. Let’s look at how pastor Charles Swindoll unpacks these verses in Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary.  

Romans 11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

Reflecting on the unsearchable mercy of God prompted Paul to break forth in a doxology. Such inexplicable grace can only come from a God of infinitely deep goodness. To praise his Creator, Paul searched his extensive vocabulary to find the right words. It was as if he were stringing verbal pearls onto a magnificent necklace of praise, selecting each one ever so carefully:

Bathos (βάθος) means “depth.” For the first century traveler, nothing was more powerful and profound than the sea. Its depths were dark and mysterious, defying any to know its secrets.

Ploutos (πλοῦτος) means “wealth.” Loosely based on the verb “to flow” the basic sense is “spilling over with goodness.” The wealth can be physical, spiritual, or moral. Of course, in reference to God, it is all three.

Sophia (σοφία, “wisdom”) and gnōsis (γνῶσις, “knowledge”) represent the sum total of all there is to think. They speak of God’s knowledge of all things and His ability to perfectly order all events.

Anexeraunētos (ἀνεξερεύνητος) means “unsearchable.” The root word is a verb meaning “to track,” in the sense of hunting down an animal by following its trail. The Lord’s judgment cannot be traced through human logic. It is beyond our ability to comprehend.

Anexichniastos (ἀνεξιχνίαστος) is virtually identical in meaning to the previous term but is found nowhere outside the Bible and Bible-related literature. Many translations render the term “unfathomable,” both for style and to reflect Paul’s original “depth” theme.

Romans 11:34–35

For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM, THAT IT WOULD BE PAID BACK TO HIM?

Paul reinforced his worship by alluding to two passages from the Old Testament. The first comes from Isaiah 40:13, a curiously appropriate selection. In the words of one commentator, “In chapters 1–39 [of Isaiah] judgment on sin is stressed; in chapters 40–66 atonement for that sin and the resulting change in people and the world system are discussed.” Isaiah marked the shift of emphasis from humanity’s sin to God’s inexplicable grace by celebrating His sovereignty and wisdom, which Paul paraphrased in his doxology, “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?” (Rom. 11:34).

The second passage (11:35) is an allusion to Job 41:11, in which the Lord challenged the bewildered and suffering patriarch, “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” This divine challenge came at the end of a long quest for answers by Job and his friends, a journey that called into question God’s integrity, wisdom, and goodness. Then, just like now, they faced tragedy with a singular question on their lips: Why? And for months, the man’s so-called friends speculated about God’s nature and spun a tangled web of vain theologies. Job’s wife counseled him to forsake life and end his own misery. Eventually, the man was brought to his end and strongly demanded his day in court, where he felt sure he would be vindicated and the Lord caught short.

Job’s Doxological Response

After a long time—we don’t know how long—the Lord broke the silence as He confronted the man who was “blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1). However, He didn’t come with answers. Job never learned of Satan’s challenge in heaven. Job never received an explanation. He was never presented with a logical list of reasons his tragedy was ultimately a part of God’s good plan for him and everyone affected. Instead, he encountered God Himself—and this met his need. Seeing God’s unsearchable mercy and gazing into His unfathomable ways ended the man’s desperate quest for answers. He put his hand over his mouth and repented of his foolish outbursts. And, at that point, he worshipped.

Paul’s Doxological Response

Paul could identify with Job. The apostle did his very best to reveal the plans of God and to explain His methods as the Holy Spirit supernaturally directed him. Eventually, however, his efforts to explain things that exceed the limitations of human ability dissolved into silence. And he stood silent before the magnificence of God and marveled at the sophistication of His ways.

As I reflect on Paul’s doxology, it occurs to me that the only words even remotely suitable to describe God are “un-” words. “Unsearchable.” “Unfathomable.” Words that highlight His utter “otherness.” A. W. Tozer’s thoughts are especially helpful here:

To say that God is infinite is to say that He is measureless. Measurement is the way created things have of accounting for themselves. It describes limitations, imperfections, and cannot apply to God. Weight describes the gravitational pull of the earth upon material bodies; distance describes intervals between bodies in space; length means extension in space, and there are other familiar measurements such as those for liquid, and energy, and sound, and light, and numbers for pluralities. We also try to measure abstract qualities, and speak of great or little faith, high or low intelligence, large or meager talents.

Is it not plain that all this does not and cannot apply to God? It is the way we see the works of His hands, but not the way we see Him. He is above all this, outside of it, beyond it. Our concepts of measurement embrace mountains and men, atoms and stars, gravity, energy, numbers, speed, but never God . . . Nothing in God is less or more, or large or small. He is what He is in Himself, without qualifying thought or word. He is simply God.

Romans 11:36

For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Having exhausted all thought and having considered all rational explanations on the topic of God’s plan for the Jews, Paul’s journey ends the doxology with the Beginning:

From Him: God is the source of all that exists.

Through Him: God sustains all things and gives everything purpose and movement.

To Him: God is the purpose for which all things exist.

All things: Think of it! That includes your current situation. That includes what you cannot figure out. That includes your loss of employment. That includes your promotion. That includes the blessing of your family. That includes the loss of your precious loved one. That includes the bewildering test you’re enduring. That includes whatever situation you happen to be in right now, regardless of how painful or how pleasant it might be. All things.

Responding Doxologically in All of Life

God does not conceal Himself. Nor does He hide His will. If we do not see, it is because we are looking for something He is not. If we do not understand, it is because we have expectations He chooses not to fulfill. But those limitations are ours, not His.

Paul revealed to us everything God revealed to him. We have no reason to suspect he held anything back. Nevertheless, many questions go unanswered. How is God’s kingdom already here, but not yet fully? Why does He allow evil to continue while His elect suffer dreadful and cruel persecution? At what point in the future will He fulfill all of His covenant promises to Israel? How does someone rejoice in his or her affliction? On and on . . . Like you, I have a list of questions I would like to ask the Lord when I get to heaven. But then, like Job and Paul, I suspect it won’t mean very much when I see Him. At that time, it will all make sense.

So why worry over my list of unanswerable questions? Why not worship Him here and now, on this side of eternity, and let His unsearchable mercy, His unfathomable wisdom, and His unmatched character be enough? Is this not a reasonable sacrifice, considering that He is God and I am not?

Get More Encouragement from Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary

Chuck Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary is a great commentary on the entirety of the New Testament. Consistent and thorough exposition with a pastoral heart makes this a great resource for studying and applying God’s Word. Visit our store today to learn more!